ATB Displays On His Timeless Sound: “It is All the time Been a Aim for Me to Make Melodies That Survived Over the Years” – EDM.com
A fast scan of the gang beneath provided a blurry imaginative and prescient of our bodies shifting to the beat of the melody. Sometimes, the lots would erupt as a well-known guitar riff would sprinkle all through the efficiency, teasing followers desperate to take heed to the 1998 traditional. Lastly, after tormenting the viewers for an hour, ATB unleashed the worldwide hit rework of his nostalgic report, “9 PM (Till I Come).”
The time-honored monitor is a staple in dance music. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the roaring cheers from the gang when that track was performed that took us abruptly as we watched over the dancefloor. As an alternative, it was the outpouring of emotion, sheer pleasure and happiness as all the venue cried out the lyrics to “Ecstacy.”
It has been over twenty years because the iconic German DJ first got here on the scene, and in his phrases, “it isn’t a standard factor” for artists like him to proceed touring the world. But ATB finds himself 1000’s of miles away from residence, performing a 2004 report that resonates with the general public, each younger and outdated.
It was this sense of nostalgia and emotional connection that ATB touched on as he spoke with EDM.com in a current interview. As he hit the midway level of his eight-city U.S. tour, ATB mirrored on his profitable 2021 which noticed the launch of “Your Love (9PM)” and the launch of his DJ EP collection.
EDM.com: Initially we needed to congratulate you on changing into a brand new father. How has fatherhood been like for you thru the worldwide pandemic?
ATB: The pandemic has been a tragedy for the entire world however on the similar second. I am a bit bit grateful for it. I used to be in a position to spend a lot time with my little son and it was proper on the excellent second for me.
On the opposite aspect, it was exhausting as effectively as a result of nearly as good because it was to have numerous time within the studio, it was simply as dangerous to not be on stage. I am actually grateful that issues are getting higher proper now and it is giving us the chance to get again on stage and do what we actually love.
EDM.com: What did you miss about not being on stage?
ATB: In the event you’re a musician, there’s nothing like standing in entrance of a crowd and getting a response and seeing their smiling faces, with out masks [laughs].
, at any time when I am within the studio and I am producing a monitor there are moments in that monitor the place I can think about persons are throwing their palms up. So once I see that taking place within the crowd at that very same precise second, I am glad and I keep in mind this is the reason I do music.
EDM.com: Talking of manufacturing tracks that make individuals throw their palms up, you lately reworked your signature report “9 PM (Until I come).”What made you need to reimagine a 20-year-old report?
ATB: , I keep in mind earlier instances pondering to myself, “I by no means need to play this monitor once more.” However having a lot time within the studio by means of the pandemic I assumed concerning the melody for “9 PM” and realized it isn’t dying.
I am fairly certain I am the one individual on this planet that is listened to that guitar riff essentially the most, but it surely by no means bought boring. So I assumed, let’s deliver this melody again to the brand new technology as a result of they adore it. I do know they adore it as a result of at any time when I play it the gang at all times screams.
EDM.com: How did you handle to create a brand new track whereas protecting components of the outdated one?
ATB: I did not need to do a canopy model. I needed to put in writing new lyrics and I did not need to do it alone. Once I met Subject, I talked to him concerning the melody and we ultimately sat collectively within the studio. We stored the melody and labored round it and rewrote it with vocals.
EDM.com: Why did you resolve on partnering with Subject?
ATB: As a result of he lives 20 kilometers from my studio and he is German [laughs].
Once I take heed to music, I can really feel it in my head. Every time anybody asks me for a remix, I can rebuild the remix earlier than I am within the studio as a result of I’ve it in my head. And it was the identical once I listened to his track “Breaking Me.” It was a sound that may translate to the guitar melody.
The consequence was precisely what I had in my head earlier than. I did not need to do it too trance-y, or too house-y or no matter. This “Breaking Me” sound was precisely what I assumed for this monitor and ultimately, all the things turned out precisely how I needed.
EDM.com: You latterly launched your DJ EP (Vol. 01), which is the primary in a collection of upcoming EPs. Are you able to elaborate on the gathering and what we will count on from them?
ATB: The EPs are to indicate that there are literally a couple of completely different variations of ATB on the market. With the EP, I need to present folks that at any time when I am doing radio stuff, I do not neglect about my DJ life.
I am shocked when individuals say to me, “Oh, you are doing radio stuff now,” when 20 years in the past I used to be on the radio with “Let U Go.” So I have been doing radio stuff. I am additionally doing ambient, you recognize the actually quiet stuff, actually stress-free sounds. So I am open to completely different sorts of stuff.
EDM.com: Does the criticism concerning your extra business sound get to you?
ATB: , I am very open for criticism, however in fact, I am generally unhappy once they write stuff like, “He is shedding his outdated sound” or no matter. In the case of this stuff I am very emotional, however I am additionally emotional onstage and I am emotional within the studio. They simply do not perceive that I’ve completely different sides of what I am doing.
EDM.com: It appears like “passionate” is the phrase you are searching for.
ATB: Sure, passionate is best. I am passionate as a result of I care about my work.
EDM.com: There are individuals of their 30s and 40s within the viewers who grew up listening to ATB and are obsessed with your music. What do it’s a must to say to your grownup followers who’ve adopted you all through your 20-year profession?
ATB: Initially, I am actually grateful to nonetheless be onstage as a result of that is not a standard factor. There are 10 individuals on this planet that began in 1990-93 doing music and are nonetheless right here, and I am glad to be considered one of them.
There’s numerous artists on the market who lose the followers or lose contact with the gang and I am so grateful that there are individuals ready for me. That tells me I’ve finished one thing proper. I hope to be there for them for an additional 20 years.
EDM.com: You say that it isn’t regular for artists to have a profession so long as yours. So what’s driving you to proceed to make music?
ATB: It is simple: I really like listening to music and I like to make new music. I really like sitting within the studio enjoying round with melodies that flip into tracks.
, once I was 5 and 10 years outdated, I used to take devices and create new melodies. It is at all times been a aim for me to make melodies that survived through the years. Every time somebody involves me and tells me {that a} track of mine introduced them by means of actually tough instances, I inform myself, “Okay, that is why I am doing music.”
So that is what drives me to do extra music. I could be in different individuals’s lives by means of my music and it is a good feeling.
EDM.com: What do you suppose it’s about your music that resonates with individuals?
ATB: It is a signature sound. I am unable to clarify it. However when you ask an ATB fan they’re going to let you know, “That is typical ATB.” However they cannot clarify what it’s, you recognize? [laughs].
I do not care concerning the tendencies proper now, and that is a vital ATB factor. Everyone is doing the fashionable factor however I do not care about that. I do know that numerous different DJs do not play my sound however that is a bonus for me.
EDM.com: I ask as a result of there are impassioned grown adults who will sing their hearts out to “Ecstasy.” Why do you suppose individuals relate to that monitor?
ATB: I do not know. However I believe it is good to not be capable to clarify it.
EDM.com: Why is that?
ATB: As a result of that is what makes it particular. If we may clarify it, then it wasn’t that particular.
FOLLOW ATB:
Fb: facebook.com/ATB
Instagram: instagram.com/atbandre
Twitter: twitter.com/atbandre
Spotify: spoti.fi/3svUgR6